Butterfly Spring

What it is

Butterfly Spring sits just below the Yunlong Peak of the Cangshan range, about 25 km north of Dali Ancient Town in Yunnan. The spring itself is a deep, jade-green pool fed by snowmelt filtering through limestone; a 200-year-old butterfly tree (a legume that blooms in April) leans over the water. According to Bai legend, a young woman named Wen Gu and her lover transformed into butterflies here after being separated, and every spring thousands of butterflies once clustered on the tree — a phenomenon now rare but still celebrated. The site is a 4A-rated scenic area and a key stop on the Bai cultural circuit.

The spring is also the traditional venue for the Bai people's Butterfly Festival, held on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month (usually late April or May). Villagers from around Xizhou and Zhoucheng gather in embroidered costumes to sing, dance and court. The surrounding park includes a butterfly museum, a small aviary, and a viewing pavilion. It is a gentle, shaded walk of about an hour, and pairs naturally with a visit to the nearby Xizhou old town and its morning market. Our guides can arrange a Bai-style lunch in a courtyard home nearby.

Highlights

• The Legend Pool — A 5-metre-deep spring so clear you can see the coins on the bottom; our guide recounts the Wen Gu love story that gives the site its name.
• Butterfly Tree — The ancient tree that once hosted clouds of butterflies; in late April it still draws a few, and the story is told on a stone tablet.
• Butterfly Museum — A small but well-curated collection of Yunnan butterflies, including rare birdwings; good for a 20-minute stop, especially with children.
• Bai Festival Grounds — The open courtyard where the Butterfly Festival is held; if you time it right, you'll see traditional Bai singing and dancing.
• Cangshan Backdrop — The spring sits directly under the mountain's dramatic ridge; the reflection in the pool is a photographer's favourite.

How to get there

From Dali Ancient Town, the spring is about 40 minutes by private car or taxi (¥80–120 one way). Public buses run from the ancient town's west gate to Xizhou, then a short taxi; but for a smooth day, we arrange a car and driver. It slots perfectly into a morning: visit the spring early, then continue to Xizhou for lunch and the market, returning to Dali by mid-afternoon.

Tickets & practical info

Admission is ¥40 per person (children under 1.2m free). Opening hours are 8:00–18:00, with last entry at 17:00. Book on-site or via WeChat mini-programs; foreign cards are not accepted at the gate, so bring cash or use Alipay/WeChat Pay linked to an international card. Our guide can pre-purchase tickets to save time.

Best time to visit

The ideal time is late April to early May, when the butterfly tree blooms and the Butterfly Festival takes place (15th day of the 4th lunar month). Otherwise, visit on a weekday morning right at opening — the light is soft, the tour buses haven't arrived, and the pool is at its most reflective.

Tips from our guides

• Arrive before 9:00 to have the pool and pavilion almost to yourself; tour groups typically arrive from 10:00 onwards.
• Bring small cash (¥1 or ¥5 notes) if you want to toss a coin into the spring — it's a local custom, though not required.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the path from the entrance to the spring is a gentle 15-minute walk, but there are stone steps.
• If you visit during the Butterfly Festival, be respectful when photographing Bai people in traditional dress — ask first, and avoid blocking the dancers.
• Combine with Xizhou old town and its morning market for a half-day Bai culture loop; our guide can arrange a courtyard lunch.

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